Evenin, Does anybody know where and how to test the voltage regulator... My first battery lasted about 6 yrs. (2001 model) and I replaced it about 18 mos. ago?? and now this one doesn't seem to charge now...Pretty dissapointing as it was a oem battery... Wrencher said it might be over charging cuz the battery ended up low on water around Sept. Filled water with distilled and slow charged for quite awhile and it seemed OK, then Used it for hunt season and have used it to plow this year but if it sits much there's not enough juice to turn it over... Sound about right?? Any who, who has thoughts and if I need to get a new regulator are there good sources on the net for these??? Thanks alot, Arc

 

a quick way to check the charging system (helps to have 4 hands for this):
take a volt meter and take a reading from the battery while the machine is off
while somebody is pushing the starter button take another reading. should only drop about 2 - 4v with the starter engaged.
start the maching and hold the motor at about 2500 RPM's and take another reading. the voltage should be about 13.5v - 15v
if voltage drops more than 2-4v then i would suspect a bad battery. if charging voltage is below or above the 13.5-15v range then the regulator could be bad. over charging is just as bad as no charge at all.

 

Mornin arcspark
Can you run a diagnostic mode check on your model?

 

if you test it and its over 15 volts, its over charging i would say. if the battery was real low on water for a long time and kept using it it would kill the life of the battery as well(not last as long as it should). imo.

 

The most problems I have with atv batteries is maintenace. Even if reg/rectifier good if battery sets without a maintainer or occasional charge,then will lose approx 1% daily of its charge. I see this daily and finally have convinced a lot of owners to get Yuasa battery tenders,or other floating chargers. Granted an over charging reg/rectifier will dry up cells,have seen it happen on ocassion,plus heat of summer will will sap elctrolyte from cells while using and if not topped off will sulfate and short out. Also when we sell a new battery, sealed or conventional we try to put a charge on these before they go out the door which goes a long way on extending battery life.Some customers are in a hurry and promise to charge when they get home,BUT these are usually the same face I see maybe a year later. I prefer maintenane free batteries,have one on my Honda street bike with a Yuasa $26 battery minder which I hope will give me years of service like the last battery. 5 1/2 years on a convention yuasa! Well worth with the charger price. JMO opt

 

Ive switched to dry cells, too early to tell on battery life but they definately turn the engine faster, must have more cranking amps. I also do a good charge when new and try to slow charge them every month to keep them up. The winch and snow plowing will draw a battery down. might charge every night when doing this.